A Sandy Township man receives prison time for gas station robbery

Friday

Dec 30, 2011 at 12:01 AMDec 30, 2011 at 9:59 AM

Stark County Common Pleas Judge John G. Haas sentenced Matthew J. Motz, 25, of Sandy Township, to a seven-year prison term for an Oct. 17 gas station robbery. Motz can apply for early release under court supervision after serving six months of that sentence.

Shane Hoover

The robber scouted the gas station. He wore gloves and a bandana to hide his identity. He used a stolen truck to get away.

Stark County Common Pleas Judge John G. Haas sentenced Motz, 25, to a seven-year prison term, but Motz can apply for early release under court supervision after serving six months of that sentence.

County prosecutors dismissed a firearm specification that would have required Motz to serve at least three years in prison.

Defense attorney Wayne Graham said Motz has a heroin addiction.

Armed with a small pistol, Motz robbed the Marathon Bell Store at 2549 Waynesburg Drive SE in Canton Township on Oct. 17. He then fled in a stolen pickup.

The robbery was captured by a video surveillance camera.

Sheriff’s deputies found a red bandana on the street near the gas station and gloves in the truck. Both items matched the ones worn by the robber, and tested positive for Motz’s DNA, said Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Lewis Guarnieri.

Video surveillance from the store showed that Motz had been in the store an hour before the robbery, and a relative later gave deputies a bag with a .22-caliber pistol and several hypodermic needles that were found in the basement of a home where Motz sometimes stayed, according to a sheriff’s report in the court file.

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